Meta to offer ad-free Facebook and Instagram subscriptions in UK

Meta will offer ad free subscriptions to Facebook and Instagram users in the United Kingdom in the coming weeks, the company said on Friday, giving adults a paid alternative to the platforms' targeted advertising model after talks with the country's data protection regulator. UK users aged 18 and over will be invited to subscribe for 2.99 pounds a month via web browsers or 3.99 on Apple iOS and Android devices for the first Meta account, the company said, adding that linked accounts would require only a single monthly fee.

Meta said the option will stop subscribers from seeing ads and that their personal data will not be used to show them advertising. Users who do not subscribe will continue to access Facebook and Instagram for free with personalised ads. The company attributed the higher mobile price to fees charged by Apple and Google under their app purchasing policies.

The move follows guidance and engagement from the Information Commissioner's Office, which welcomed Meta's plan. An ICO spokesperson said the decision "moves Meta away from targeting users with ads as part of the standard terms and conditions for using its Facebook and Instagram services, which we've been...